The National Resistance Movement (NRM) has secured 566 unopposed LC1 chairperson positions across the Bukedi Sub-region, strengthening the ruling party’s grassroots structures following the Local Council I elections.
The unopposed victories were recorded in six districts of Pallisa, Busia, Butaleja, Butebo, Kibuku and Budaka, representing 22.59 percent of the 2,506 villages in the sub-region.
According to figures released by the party, Pallisa registered the highest number of unopposed candidates with 121 out of 498 villages, followed by Busia with 105 out of 568 villages, Butaleja with 99 out of 443, Butebo with 98 out of 269, Kibuku with 81 out of 405, and Budaka with 62 out of 323 villages.
Butebo recorded the highest proportion of unopposed candidates, with 36.43 percent of its villages returning NRM flag bearers without facing a challenger.
The outcome has been attributed to an intensive grassroots mobilisation campaign spearheaded by the NRM National Treasurer and Bukedi Sub-region Team Leader, Ambassador Barbara Nekesa Oundo.
In the weeks leading up to the elections, Ambassador Nekesa traversed the sub-region, meeting party leaders, Members of Parliament, district officials and grassroots structures while rallying support for NRM candidates and urging party members to remain united.
Party officials said the mobilisation strategy focused on strengthening local structures, building consensus among aspiring candidates and minimising internal competition, resulting in hundreds of NRM flag bearers being declared elected unopposed.
Busia District alone contributed 105 unopposed LC1 chairpersons, with Busime Sub-county leading after registering 16 unopposed candidates. Masaba followed with 14, while Buhehe recorded 12. Buteba, Buyanga, Majanji, Dabani, Eastern Division and several other administrative units also registered multiple unopposed victories.
The NRM said all the unopposed candidates are official party flag bearers, giving the ruling party an early advantage in consolidating its grassroots leadership ahead of the next stages of the electoral process.
Political analysts say the outcome underscores the NRM’s continued organisational strength at the village level, where Local Council I leadership remains central to community mobilisation, local governance and the implementation of government programmes.
